March 21, 2022
Department
DATE: March 21, 2023
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Mayor Eduardo Martinez,
Councilmember Doria Robinson, and
Councilmember Claudia Jimenez
Subject:
Addition of Staff to the Mayor’s Office to expand City
Council capacity for the budget process
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Additional staff salary to be added to the Mayor’s Budget in the amount allowing the hiring of a Senior Assistant to the Mayor:
Salary range:
Monthly $7,516-$9,089
Yearly $90,192 – $109,068
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
February 21, 2023
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
Hiring of a Senior Assistant to the Mayor to support the City Council in analyzing past, present, and projected
budgets, investigating new revenue enhancements, and
other relevant data research and analysis.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPROVE the hiring of the one staff person within the
Mayor’s Office to support the City Council. – Mayor’s
Office (Mayor Eduardo Martinez 510-620-6503),
Councilmember Doria Robinson (510-620-6568),
Councilmember Claudia Jimenez (510-620-6565)
AGENDA
REPORT
March 21, 2022
DISCUSSION:
The City Council is ultimately responsible for approval of the municipal budget and other complex financial decisions that impact the city’s fiscal health. To better understand the City's finances—and what decisions and policies should be implemented to have a sustainable fiscal outlook—the City Council should have support that allows for a deeper analysis of decisions regarding the City's budget.
This item proposes to add an additional staff member to the Mayor’s Office, with the purpose of supporting City Council in analyzing past, present, and projected budgets, investigating new revenue enhancements, and other relevant data research and analysis. As referenced by the City Manager during the March 7th, 2023 City Council meeting, City Council members have become increasingly more hands-on in the budgeting process in recent years. This necessary shift has put an increasing burden on the city’s Finance Department, who must field detailed questions from 7 Council members in addition to its existing duties.
The City was recently audited by the State. Although the City's overall Richmond Fiscal Risk Indicators have improved from high risk to moderate risk, the City needs to address the areas where the City remains at high risk. Some of the areas are OPEB and pension funds. It is important that the City Council begin to look at these and other financial issues in order to make improvements toward healthy City finances in order to provide adequate services to Richmond residents. Adding a dedicated staff member will add capacity and provide analysis that will enable City Council to make informed and data-driven decisions.
In response to the State Audit, the City has generated a Corrective Action Plan with recommendations for fiscal improvement. These recommendations, while aiming to the city’s financial outlook, may also seriously impact city services provided to residents.
Simultaneously, the State Audit specifies that the City’s Finance Department would benefit from additional capacity. In order to responsibly balance the State Audit and Corrective Action Plan with community needs, City Council will benefit from the additional research and analysis of a dedicated staff member. This additional capacity will also remove time and work burdens from the Finance Department.
This staff member will reside in the Mayor’s Office but be tasked with a monthly report to the City Council on their research and analysis. In addition, their work will be directed by Council as a whole. To decrease the burden on the Finance Department and enable this staff member to work quickly and effectively, they should have direct access to the City’s finance reports via MUNIS and other data that allows for such analysis.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – City of Richmond Job Description
Attachment 2 – City of Richmond Salary Schedule